One of the most popular Hybrid cars on the market is the Toyota Prius. It is both compact and economical, with a starting price of just $22,400. This price puts the Prius within the realms of reality for the everyday, albeit environmentally-conscious, individual.

The third generation of Toyota Prius, the 2010 model, has EPA ratings of 51 mpg city, and 49 mpg highway.

That’s pretty good even for a hybrid, and is a step up from earlier Toyota Prius models.
But a new pricing structure is planned up for this hybrid, and the Toyota Prius I, II, III, IV, and V are reportedly already available.

The lowest-cost model is the Toyota Prius I, which should run for around $21,000, while the Prius V starts at $27,670.

While the new line of Priuses will include a range of features, it gets better.. A solar powered roof package is available for the Toyota Prius II, III, and IV Models – but not for the V.

The solar roof costs between $3,600 and $4,500. It uses solar power to supplement the vehicle’s power and to get even better mileage. This package also includes a solar-powered ventilation system, a navigation system, a power tilt/slide moon roof, and remote-control AC (for those of us who just can’t be bothered to lean forward and turn the knob?)

With the combination of hybrid technology and solar power, an entirely different range of fuel efficiency may be within grasp. The solar powered hybrid is said to make mileages of up to 70 mpg possible, under the right circumstances.

If you live in or often visit a sunny climate, a solar roof might go a long ways in reducing your gas bill and pollution emissions.

Under some (although somewhat theoretical) circumstances, the driver of a solar-powered Toyota Prius might never need to buy gas at all.

But minimally, a driver of a solar powered Prius who uses the vehicle’s “eco” settings and follows basic guidelines can expect to need gasoline far less often – so infrequently, in fact, that he should probably take care not to forget to stop for gas at all.

About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn how they can live greener and more environmentally friendly lives. To learn more, visit her Green Gadget Blog.

Source Article: Toyota Prius Goes Solar